GM SpiderBeard's Carrion Crown (Inactive)

Game Master motteditor

Hmm, apparently my post got eaten.

Whiskeyjack continued to wail away at the Galdana in front of him, hoping to clear the path for the others. He wasn't sure that his

haste attack,haste,df,bane,pa: 1d20 + 17 + 1 + 3 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (14) + 17 + 1 + 3 + 2 - 3 = 34
B damage,df,pa,bane: 1d10 + 8 + 3 + 6 + 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 8 + 3 + 6 + (6, 4) + 2 = 33

attack1,haste,df,bane,pa: 1d20 + 17 + 1 + 3 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (16) + 17 + 1 + 3 + 2 - 3 = 36
B damage,df,pa,bane: 1d10 + 8 + 3 + 6 + 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 8 + 3 + 6 + (5, 1) + 2 = 35

attack2,haste,df,bane,pa: 1d20 + 17 - 5 + 1 + 3 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (14) + 17 - 5 + 1 + 3 + 2 - 3 = 29
B damage,df,pa,bane: 1d10 + 8 + 3 + 6 + 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 8 + 3 + 6 + (5, 1) + 2 = 30

SS+2 is up for adjacent allies

Lena focuses on the main bad guy

quickened magic missile: 5d4 + 6 ⇒ (4, 2, 2, 1, 2) + 6 = 17

empowered magic missile: 5d4 + 6 ⇒ (4, 3, 3, 4, 4) + 6 = 24 x1.5=36

Wren waits/delays to see if 'Lena's magic attacks are successful before following suit.

The friar shrugs off Elena's curse, glaring at her with his own baleful gaze. "I will stab your eyes out, little girl," he grates.

He changes his focus to Lena and Wren however as they blast him with magic missiles. He gestures toward the former as he casts a spell, and her vision suddenly clouds DC 19 Fort save, or be blinded.

Near the door, Bronin, Whiskey and Adder kill all the remaining Galdanas, save the one chained about the necrotic pit and the strange one wandering off toward the south.

Party is up; Wren, I assume you're moving to somewhere you can see him and using magic missiles, so just roll that damage. (Lena, I moved you out of the pool of maggots.)

"Well that's not very nice of you!" Elena sneers, trying her evil eye once more. She has a bit more confidence now, not the scared little girl she was weeks prior.

Accursed Hex; Evil Eye DC 23 Will Save -4 AC

Wren moved to where she could see last round.

Round 4

Noting the success of 'Lena's attack, Wren follows suit twice.

5d4 + 5 ⇒ (3, 4, 1, 1, 2) + 5 = 16 Round 3 MM
5d4 + 5 ⇒ (4, 3, 2, 1, 1) + 5 = 16 Round 4 MM

Round 4/14: +1 to all the things, you know the deal.

Erp?

fort save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

counterspell: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (10) + 14 = 24

Whiskeyjack, with no immediate targets to pound on, focused his will on the anti-life shell around the friar and attempts to dispel it. The room rang like a gong as an ethereal hammer slammed into the spell construct.

Bronin runs forward and SLAMS into the Anti-life shell.
What is this? What do I do?

He thinks quickly, and puts away his swords and pulls out his compound bow.
It's months since I've used this. I sure hope I'm not rusty.

As a note, Lena is flying at the moment, on her broom

Still need an action from Lena, plus Adder.

Lena advances and casts

scorching ray 1: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (11) + 16 = 27 touch attack

damage: 4d6 + 2 ⇒ (4, 6, 6, 6) + 2 = 24

scorching ray 2: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (19) + 16 = 35 touch attack

damage: 4d6 + 2 ⇒ (3, 2, 3, 4) + 2 = 14

scorching ray 3: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (11) + 16 = 27 touch attack

damage: 4d6 + 2 ⇒ (3, 4, 1, 3) + 2 = 13

Adder moves to the side of the evil spellcaster.

Wren's missiles and Lena's fire slam into the dark figure as Elena's curse seems to settle on him this time. Unfortunately, Whiskey's attempt to dispel the magic around the monster is less effective and Adder and Bronin find themselves unable to get within 10 feet. Still, as they get close to the pit, they can feel their skin tingle -- it seems likely the necrotic energy leaking from the pit would likely harm them, a feeling increased as they see the friar's wounds continue to heal.

He glances at the two warriors, and visibly dismisses them, turning his attention to the spellcasters. A moment later a roaring column of flame surrounds Lena and Elena! 42 hp to both; DC 21 Reflex save for half

reflex: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (15) + 14 = 29

from memory, flamestrike is half fire damage, half divine?

Lena adroitly dodged, catching the edge of the flame. But she is shocked when more damage than she expects crept through

saved for half, 21 damage. 11 fire, 10 divine? in that case 10 damage.

Ouch! that hurt you corpse kisser! I'll see you burn!

Wren ponders her next strategy, which likely won’t involve moving in and pecking the evil man’s eyes out. Probably not.

Pondering her response.

Come on Wren! Get in here and go something! We can't get near it and it's healing itself by being near the pit. Insult the thing at least!
Not having a clue what Wren could do to it, he throws out wild,far-fetched ideas.
Summon a bunch of minstrels and bards to tell it how badly it's going to lose.

Will post bow attacks at home. I need Herolab as I haven't used this weapon yet.

Reflex DC 21: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22 Resist Fire 10 for a total of 11 damage

Elena sneers as she begins to further curse the man. "Why won't it let you get any closer?"

Cackle and Misfortune DC 25 Will Save

"Angradd, I beseech thee. I go' one more chance a' this, an' then th' birdbrained elf'll be th' one we be relyin' on. Ye dinnae be wantin' tha' d' ye? So how abou' ye be puttin' a little somethin' extra in this one?"

Whiskeyjack chanted a quick prayer to his god before using his last dispel magic of the day, hoping to bring down that anti-life shell.

CL check: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (20) + 14 = 34

Edit: BOOM!

Come on Wren! Get in here and go something! We can't get near it and it's healing itself by being near the pit. Insult the thing at least!

Wren clucks her tongue, knowing that good things come to those that wait. Was actually hoping that ‘Lena would do that, but this is great too.

Edit: BOOM!

Boom indeed. The best kind of boom.

Wren crackles knowingly as she was right all along.

Wren readies to strike with magic.

Readying a concentration disrupting Magic Missile should the caster try to cast again:

5d4 + 5 ⇒ (2, 1, 2, 3, 1) + 5 = 14 Magic Missile

That will definitely dispel the field, allowing you living folks to get close.

Lena cast, Ignen slipping off her tongue like a speeding flame.

quikened scorching ray: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (19) + 16 = 35

damage: 4d6 + 2 ⇒ (4, 5, 3, 1) + 2 = 15

quikened scorching ray: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (2) + 16 = 18

damage: 4d6 + 2 ⇒ (5, 1, 5, 6) + 2 = 19

quikened scorching ray: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (18) + 16 = 34

damage: 4d6 + 2 ⇒ (4, 5, 2, 2) + 2 = 15

Following it up with an even stronger strike, her voice intoning deeply, like a large bonfire

empowered scorching ray: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (8) + 16 = 24

damage: 4d6 + 2 ⇒ (1, 3, 1, 2) + 2 = 9 x1.5=12

empowered scorching ray: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (11) + 16 = 27

damage: 4d6 + 2 ⇒ (2, 4, 6, 2) + 2 = 16 x1.5=24

empowered scorching ray: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (8) + 16 = 24

damage: 4d6 + 2 ⇒ (3, 4, 2, 4) + 2 = 15 x1.5=23

The result is a flurry of firebolts, crashing around to creature.

all touch attacks

Bronin drops the bow to the ground.
]Didn't really use the bow much anyway.
and quick draws his long sword. Moving towards the enemy with a couple quick steps and with a lung he swings at the bad guy attempting to cut him over and over.

attack: 1d20 + 17 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 17 + 4 = 37 damage: 2d6 + 14 ⇒ (3, 2) + 14 = 19 + fire: 1d6 ⇒ 1

attack: 1d20 + 17 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 17 + 4 = 30 damage: 2d6 + 14 ⇒ (4, 6) + 14 = 24 + fire: 1d6 ⇒ 4

attack: 1d20 + 12 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 12 + 4 = 35 damage: 2d6 + 14 ⇒ (2, 5) + 14 = 21 + fire: 1d6 ⇒ 4

attack: 1d20 + 7 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 7 + 4 = 29 damage: 2d6 + 14 ⇒ (3, 2) + 14 = 19 + fire: 1d6 ⇒ 1

possible crit confirm.
attack: 1d20 + 12 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 12 + 4 = 21 damage: 2d6 + 14 ⇒ (6, 3) + 14 = 23

Adder lunges forward.

Attack 1: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (12) + 25 = 37
Damage: 2d4 + 22 ⇒ (3, 3) + 22 = 28

Attack 1: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (3) + 21 = 24
Damage: 2d4 + 22 ⇒ (3, 4) + 22 = 29

Attack 1: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (14) + 16 = 30
Damage: 2d4 + 22 ⇒ (4, 2) + 22 = 28

Attack 1: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17
Damage: 2d4 + 22 ⇒ (2, 3) + 22 = 27

With the anti-life shell gone, you're able to make quick work of the undead, destroying it even as the pit seems to burn Adder and Bronin. They're able to move away quickly enough, leaving the Galdana still chained above the pit -- who seems unhurt by the necromantic energies, clearly some sort of undead. The other Galdana continues to wander around the room in some sort of stupor.

And just to be clear, I'm going to say we're out of combat. You can stay away from the pit and avoid harm there.

"Well, well, well my chickadees, very good work," Wren chitters victoriously. "It's so nice when you listen to me. It's very good that when I say 'don't die', you all chose not to die. That is very good wisdom to follow my advice," Wren flies into the area, and begins to scan for things with Detect Magic, looking for anything of interest.

"Would one of you tend to ol' Galdana there? I'm not sure he'd be good at listening to me right now," Wren suggests to others while she looks about.

1d20 + 17 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 17 + 2 = 32 Perception (w/Detect Magic)

"How do we free him without getting burned ourselves?" Elena asks keeping her distance, though thinking of tossing Potpie into the energy as she clutches him closely.

In addition to the pit, Wren finds magic on the friar's remains. Among his gear is a scroll of destruction, a masterwork breastplate, a masterwork dagger, a +1 unholy amulet of mighty fists, a phylactery of negative channeling, 20 onyx gems worth 50 gp each, a silver unholy symbol of Urgathoa, and 73 gp.

FINALLY! After all these feints, and mis-directions. We have found the REAL Galdana - Hero and noble of Ustalav.
Do any of you have ideas on how to break this enchantment that has befuddled him?

Bronin waits for a reply. He also moves towards the Friar's body.
Speaking directly to it, even though it's twice dead.
That was for taking my kingdom from me. Whatever you thought you'd gain by destabalizing Syradel has just ended in The Whispering Way's total destruction. Your biggest mistake was making an enemy of me, and the God's put it in their plans to link me with these capable warriors.

I could maybe do it.

Lena casts break enchantment on the bespelled noble. A near-invisible fire covers the noble, seeking to burn out any foreign influences

break enchantment

break enchantment: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16

sigh, bad dice

Whiskeyjack grabbed the amulet and the holy symbol and smashed them to pieces with his warhammer before turnign his attention to the confused Galdana. "Wha' be wrong wit' 'im, lass? Think ye can be freein' 'im from wha'ever spell or enchantment be fuddlin' 'is mind?"

The dwarf looked around. "Is this i'? Did we finally clear this benighted place o' all th' cultists an' such? If so, then we nbeed t' be bringin' an army o' cleric back here to raze this place t' i's foundations, then spend a few years consecratin' th' hells outta i'"

Bronin looks around for the proof that The Whispering Way sabotaged his legacy in Syradel. @Gm, there’s not any proof. Bronin caused his own downfall with poor leadership.
In his mind, he’s done his task of vengeance. He has defeated The Whispering Way.
Once we get Galdana back to the capital, I'll head back to Syradel and show them all this proof, and regain my place of leadership. You are all welcome in that amazing kingdom as soon as I consolidate my power.

He looks high and low in this chamber. Muttering a bit.
Where the heck are the imcriminating papers? Where's the Whispering Way's orders to their black operatives?
.....
looking high and low.

Where? Where? Where? There MUST be a secret compartment!

Wren waits to see if 'Lena's efforts were successful, or if the party needs to go rest to find another solution.

So...we have two Galdanas left? One in a stupor, one chained above the pit, and clearly some sort of undead?

Wren examines the chained Galdana.

1d20 + 24 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 24 + 2 = 28 Know (undead)

Might be good to roll some heal checks on the stupored one. Might be enchanted or just a case of the Bronins, I dunno.

Bronin's! lol

That's correct, Wren.

Wren thinks the chained Galdana is in fact another zombie, like the multitude you just finished fighting. You could easily finish it off, just to be safe, though it appears to be truly stuck in the chains, where it was likely left to try to lure you into rescuing it instead of the real one.

Lena's spell has no effect, but a closer examination reveals he seems to have suffered badly from exposure to various undead. Galdana currently has 7 negative levels, and he has taken 12 points of Charisma drain from the totenmaskes. As a result, you can try various curative magic, restoration, etc.

Despite all his searching, Bronin is unable to find any incriminating evidence. He does find a note indicating Count Galdana was almost ready -- whatever that might mean -- to be brought to Gallowspire to consume the Carrion Crown elixir and be reborn as his infamous ancestor.

Bronin is clearly frustrated at finding drivel related to unimportant things like "The Carrion Crown Elixir". Where's the stuff about the Whispering Way's eight layered plans to overthrow the nobility of Syradel?! Where's the receipts? The notes talking about how it'll take tens of thousands of gold to overthrow a beloved and benevolent caretaker like Lord Bronin?

All this is easily written on his face. He desperately wants to use curse words to express his frustration - but there are women present. Especially VestalLena - whom despite having a necklace that turned her into a curse throwing witch - deep down inside is still the innocent bar wench he rescued from that small town.

So, he lets out loud frustrating grunts.
AAAAUUUGGHH! AAAAARRRRRRGGGHH! .
Nothing, nothing but some stupid note about some beer and Gallowspire.

He hands over the stupid, stupid, stupid note he found for the others to look at.

”We should get the count out of here, and I cannot do much for him now,” Wren suggests, wondering what else can be done at the moment. ”We’ll need some powerful magics to heal him, and we certainly don’t want him to fall into enemy hands again…or right now.”

As she tries to think, her eyes wander over to Bronin’s histrionics and wondering how she can help…herself never witness such things again. She flies over closer.

”Bronin, Bronin, Bronin, how do we stop your crying? I’m sure whatever meaningless self-defeating loss have you chosen to crucify yourself on?” Wren tries to reach out, but isn’t really good at some things. Like this. Like, at all.

Elena pulls out her wand of healing. "This is all I have. Use what you need." She holds it out.

I am currently unable to help negative levels and drain.

She is startled as Bronin begins screaming and crying. "Is he under some sort of spell?"

Lena looks at him

No, I think he's just being an entitled aristocrat coming to terms with the fact he is not actually the centre of existence

Vladlena the diplomat in operation

She picks up the papers and reads them.

Whiskeyjack! Look at this.

"I cannae be doin' i' any more today, bu' if'n we ken be restin' in a safe place tonigh' an' tomorrow, then I can be preparin' some restoration speels t' be bringin' back some o' 'is mind. Gonna cost a bi' though. Might' be better t' ge' 'im t' a church in a big town where they can be drawin' on their own funds, or 'is."

Hearing Vladlena call him over to look at some papers, he wandered over. "Wha' is i', lass? So, th' Whisperin' Way wants t' take 'im t' Gallowpsire? AN' this elixir, tha's wha' we been chasin' down this past half year? Sounds bad. Should be doin' ever'thing we can t' be keepin' Galdana ou' o' their hands again. Then, mebbe we should pay them a little visit a' Gallowspire and show them why i' be foolish t' mess wit' th' professor an' 'is friends!"

So, you've cleaned out this dungeon and rescued Galdana, but the adventure isn't over. You need to head to Gallowspire if you want to be sure you've eliminated the threat. You know Gallowspire lies in the middle of the blasted ruins of Adorak, some 50 miles northeast of Renchurch over rough highlands and across the headwaters of the Orphield River.

That said, you do have some time (you think?) -- certainly enough that you can rest and regain spells, etc., and figure out how you want to deal with the real Galdana.

”Let’s make like trees…and split,” Wren chirps, thinking that the party is finally done here. ”I think we have yet more battles to fight to make up for them killing my favorite Professor.”

Wren is ready to get the party outside, then teleporting at least some of them to a local town for restorations as needed. Or just walking/flying someplace.

”We have plans to plan if we’re going to finish the W’Way.”

Is it far to a safe town we can leave Galdana at? I can use my phantom chariot to move very quickly

"Let's spend a day or two in town. When we are ready I can get us rather quickly with the aid of Vladlena's chariot." She had not used this sort of traveling before but time seemed of the essence.

As Vladlena conjures up her chariot Elena stands before the group. She outstretches her arms, slowly pulling them in towards a central point in front of her. As she does so every single shadow seems to flow into that same singular pint. Once the shadows connect the magic takes hold and flows along them all as a shadowy, misty gate stands open, wide enough for all. [b]"This will let us travel a bit faster.[/ooc]

Shadow Walk Spell. Can travel 50 miles per hour in the Shadow Realm. Add in the Chariot and we should be to our location rather quickly.

You're able to leave Renchurch, with the real, still addled Galdana, and head to a safer location. You can assume you get to whatever town you'd like and have the night/day to recover and decide what you want to do.

Not getting any sympathy from anyone, Bronin defends himself a bit.
I am *NOT* crying. I was just expressing frustration. It's like following the treasure map all the way to the "X" and then digging where you are supposed to..... and finding nothing. Not even an empty sea chest.

You are all smart, what should I do? What suggestions can you give me on how to reclaim what was taken by these Shadow Masters. They are like The Aspis Consortium, pulling strings and falling kingdoms. Maybe I should get in contact with the Aspis and see if they can get me Sryadel back?
No... they are evil and two wrongs don't make a right.

While Bronin is a good man, this hurt is starting to eat at his core. He's prepared to go down the slippery slopes.

*************
Bronin mounts his trusty horse Patience. With the horseshoes of Speed, he keeps up with the Chariot and travels with the others as they all Shadow Walk. Thinking of things -turning over strategies in his brain. Fairly silent on the ride. His only solace is the wind in his hair as he rides atop his horse -feeling one with Patience as they travel.

"I am *NOT* crying."

"Oh no, of course not," Wren quickly agrees less the man's obvious crying becomes even more obvious. "You're just leaking water from your eyes to honor the dead. It's very noble, indeed."

"You are all smart, what should I do?"

Wren ponders this, trying to help. Just like she was honestly trying to help Bronin before. However, in this, she *is* s-m-r-t and better at thinking than empathy.

Rolling an intelligence check to see what a super smart person might suggest to help Bronin reclaim what was lost. Someone way smarter than me.

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27 Int check

"Well, Bronin, I think..."

* * *

At the nearest town, Wren will see a few priests about getting Galdana healed a bit, then pumping him for information about what happened to him since they last left him with the 'wolves (I think).

"Hoe abou' ye put yer big boy panties on an' help us deal wit' th' world-endin' stuff tha's goin' on in Gallowspire, then we ken be beatin' the plans outta any Whisperin' Way cultists that are leftover. Bound t' be a few we don't smear int' paste. Then, if'n ye still be needin' help, mebbe I ken be lending a hand...or at least a hammer and shield. in th' meantime, boyo, better be gettin' yer mind clear and yer sword arm limber, We ain't done wit' this ye'!"

Whiskeyjack wants to see this entire cult burned to the ground, and their plans to resurrect the Whispering Tyrant stopped. He'll give anything to see that happened, even his life or the lives of his friends. Well, maybe not Vladlena's.

Sounds like a plan. Focus on the Whispering Way, to end them. All the rest is not important right now

After arrival, We should see if we can sell things, and buy more magic if we can

The next day, Whiskeyjack is able to prepare spells that bring Galdana back to himself, and he thanks you gratefully for his rescue.

"My thanks for rescuing me. "I feel as if we've met before. You, at least," he says, gesturing to Wren. "I'm not sure about the rest of you..."

He scratches his head as he glances at Bronin and then the others.

Once reintroductions are made, he tells you that the Whispering Way was planning on taking him to Gallowspire for the final stage of the ceremony, and that is where the cult’s leader, Adivion Adrissant, went as well, along with the completed Carrion Crown elixir.